cordgrass

cordgrass
/kawrd"gras', -grahs"/, n.
any of several grasses of the genus Spartina, of coastal regions. Also called marsh grass.
[CORD + GRASS]

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plant
also called  marsh grass , or  salt grass 
 any of 16 species of grasses constituting the genus Spartina (family Poaceae). The erect, tough, long-leaved plants range from 0.3 to 3 metres (1 to 10 feet) in height and are found on marshes and tidal mud flats of North America, Europe, and Africa.

      Most species grow in clumps, with short flower spikes alternating along and often adherent to the upper portion of the stems, and with spreading underground stems (rhizomes) that send up new plants and are good soil binders. Prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) and gulf cordgrass (S. spartinae) are the most widely distributed North American species.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • cordgrass — [kôrd′gras΄] n. any of a genus (Spartina) of marsh grasses: some may reach a height of 3 m (9.8 ft) in tidal mud flats …   English World dictionary

  • cordgrass — noun any of several perennial grasses of the genus Spartina; some important as coastal soil binders • Syn: ↑cord grass • Hypernyms: ↑grass • Hyponyms: ↑salt reed grass, ↑Spartina cynosuroides, ↑prairie cordgrass, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • cordgrass — noun Date: 1857 any of a genus (Spartina) of chiefly salt marsh grasses of coastal regions of Europe, northern Africa, and the New World that have stiff culms and panicled spikelets …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • cordgrass — noun Any of various species of coastal wetland grass in the genus Spartina …   Wiktionary

  • cordgrass — n. type of perennial grass …   English contemporary dictionary

  • cordgrass — noun a coarse wiry coastal grass which is used to stabilize mudflats. [Genus Spartina.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • cordgrass — cord•grass [[t]ˈkɔrdˌgræs, ˈgrɑs[/t]] n. pln any of several grasses of the genus Spartina, of coastal wetlands • Etymology: 1860–65 …   From formal English to slang

  • Saltmeadow Cordgrass — Taxobox name = Saltmeadow Cordgrass regnum = Plantae divisio = Magnoliophyta classis = Liliopsida ordo = Cyperales familia = Poaceae genus = Spartina species = S. patens binomial = Spartina patens binomial authority = (Aiton) MuhlSaltmeadow… …   Wikipedia

  • prairie cordgrass — noun North American cordgrass having leaves with dry membranous margins and glumes with long awns • Syn: ↑freshwater cordgrass, ↑slough grass, ↑Spartina pectinmata • Hypernyms: ↑cordgrass, ↑cord grass * * * noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • freshwater cordgrass — noun North American cordgrass having leaves with dry membranous margins and glumes with long awns • Syn: ↑prairie cordgrass, ↑slough grass, ↑Spartina pectinmata • Hypernyms: ↑cordgrass, ↑cord grass …   Useful english dictionary

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